Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Abominable Snowman Discovered in Alaska!Bigfoot Spotted in New York!Batboy Found in West Virginia Cave!The Six-Fingered, Six-Toe Giant!

Before technology, the only amusement we had while waiting in line at the grocery store were the silly headlines from the National Enquirer or The Star magazines. It was the publishers intent to use crazy headlines to intrigue us to either thumb through the magazine or actually buy it.

Of all the unbelievable headlines posted above, only one stands true. Can you guess which one?
Unless you actually have physical evidence of any of the first three existing, it is the six-fingered, six-toe giant.
Within the context of the Bible, when you mention the name King David you would most associate him with fighting the giant Goliath, who stood at 9 feet, 9 inches tall. Most people tend to forget that later on David would have to fight another giant with different physical attributes, the six-fingered, six-toe giant.
When David fought Goliath he was just a young lad, anointed by the Lord, and he was full of faith.

Moreover David said, " The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:37)

After David became King, he kind of took advantage of his throne, though is heart remained pure with the Lord. David gave in to sin and his life became like an episode of Scandal: lust, plots, lies, schemes, intrigue, cover ups and murder. When David had Bathsheba's husband killed so he could take her as his wife, this displeased God greatly.

Unlike when he faced Goliath fearlessly and filled with faith, David now had to confront the six-fingered, six-toe giant. David was no longer the mighty man of faith he had been as a young man. The consequences of his sin had worn him down. In 2 Samuel 21:15, it says that David grew faint, physically weak when he saw the enemy. But he would slay him anyway.

So, why was David so victorious after sinning against God?

It was the righteousness of God.

God knew David's heart.

God's righteousness refers to the forgiveness of sins.

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who you are. (Romans 3:22)

David knew that God saw him as holy and pure, even though his sin had caused death and destruction for many.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)

Thank God we can count on the fact that God holds nothing against us if we ask for His forgiveness.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

When a 27 year-old Sacramento woman called her mother on a Monday to say her $35,000 wedding on Saturday wasn't gonna happen (groom got cold feet), you would most likely expect an angry mom! What you got instead was a mom a little shocked, but not shaken.

In return for her non-refundable deposit, mom did the unexpected. She kept the reception intact, but invited an entirely different set of folks. She invited the city's homeless to a free extravagant meal, champagne included. The room was filled with individuals, children and families.

I think it is very generous actually to lose out on something so important to yourself and then give it to someone else", said one homeless woman who came with her husband and five children.

The homeless population has increased so much in Sacramento, it now includes families.
The following day the stood-up bride and her mother would go on the honeymoon trip.

And as for the groom who got cold feet? He is missing out on being a part of one great family.
A family who loves, gives, and cares for others.

Somehow I have the feeling the Bride-that-wasn't-to-be is going to be blessed beyond measure.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." - Mark Twain

When you think of longevity in sports fan basis you think of cities like Chicago, New York and Boston. Some fans aren't even given a choice, they are born into a family of Cubs fans, or Red Sox fans, or even, dare I say... Yankees fans.

In 2004, the Boston Red Sox began the season carrying with them an 86 year old curse of not winning the World Series. The only other team with a longer losing streak, the Chicago Cubs.

The Red Sox curse began, if you believe in curses, when they traded away Babe Ruth. Yes, that Babe Ruth, who would go on to making history in baseball.

In 2004, the Red Sox would finally break that so-called curse and win the World Series. And they did it in amazing fashion. They were down 3 games to zero to the Yankees and came back to win the next four straight games against their arch rival. The Red Sox were going to the World Series. Boston Red Sox season tickets are handed down from generation to generation in families, so it is not uncommon to see thousands of elderly folks at the games with sons, daughters, and grandkids.

The Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals to finally win the World Series. The next few days afterward, Boston began to see an increase in deaths of the elderly in their community. Many families said their lost loved ones were long time Red Sox fans and they could finally die in peace now. It was as if they were just hanging on with hope. A hope that their favorite team could win one championship in their lifetime. And, so it happened. They could finally rest in peace.

And now it's the Chicago Cubs turn. There are so many elderly Cubs fans out there clinging to hope of one day finally seeing the lovable losers win a World Series. The way this team is playing, this could finally be the year. And if they win, it's gonna be one heckuva party, both here and in heaven.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

"The only source of knowledge is experience" - Albert EinsteinSurprisingly, Einstein failed his first university entrance exam. He passed both math and science, but failed the rest. Einstein had to go to a trade school for one year before he retook the exam and was finally admitted into the Swiss Federal Polytechnical School.Nice to know that even Einstein's roadmap to success had failure within it.Whenever I teach you are bound to eventually hear within the weeks of study, my illustration of the roadmap to success:"When I get to heaven I will pull out a map and ask God, 'Why did you have me go all over the map until you got me where you wanted me?' In other words, 'Why didn't you make an easier route for me to get to where I am today spiritually?""Why did my destination to my destiny take so long?"I am sure God's reply would simply be, "What took you so long, Dave?"I've heard many times that it's the adventure of getting to your destination that makes the man.Like Einstein suggests, experience can be our greatest access to success. Through life's ups-and-downs, our many failures and mistakes, it's those experiences that shape us into who God wants us to be. Charles Spurgeon once indulged on this in a very profound way,"The Father has infinite patience because He knows our immaturity will prevent us from reaching and experiencing the highest places in the Spirit.God is ok with spending 20 years on a development that could have taken two years to complete.""God doesn't measure time, He measures growth."Now that I am happy with His roadmap to my destiny, I need to come up with a different question to ask upon meeting The Big Guy. Hmm, maybe I'll just say, "I love you."

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I am a resident of the western suburbs of Chicagoland, Care and connection Pastor at Mercy Gate International.
My motto- It's not about religion, it's about relationship!
You can also check me out on facebook and my photography on either:davesphotoshop/facebook or pictalesblog.wordpress.com